The New York Jets were facing a stinging loss that would’ve
knocked them out of first place in the AFC East and severely damaged their
playoff hopes.
A bad play call, a big hit and a lucky bounce changed all that in an instant.
Abram Elam sacked J.P. Losman from behind and caused a fumble, and Shaun Ellis
picked up the ball and rumbled 11 yards into the end zone with 1:54 left to give
the Jets the go-ahead score in a 31-27 victory Sunday.
“That play that Shaun makes and Abe makes, who knows?” quarterback Brett Favre
said. “At the end, we may look back and say that could be one of those plays
that catapulted us into something great.”
Maybe, but the Jets (9-5) looked nothing like a playoff team for most of this
one as the Bills’ once-dormant offense prospered against New York’s struggling
defense.
Buffalo (6-8) was nursing a 27-24 lead and close to wrapping up its first win
against an AFC East opponent when Losman dropped back to throw and was hit from
behind by a blitzing Elam. The ball squirted out and bounced around before Ellis
grabbed it, tiptoed down the sideline and splashed into the end zone...
Video Recap:The Jets picked up a critical win on
Sunday over the Bills 31-27 to keep pace in the ultra tight AFC East. Greg
Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf recap all the action from the Meadowlands
Thomas Jones rushed to the right for 2 yard gain (Jay
Feely made PAT)
0 - 7
7:44
BUF
FG
Rian Lindell kicked a 34-yard field goal
3 - 7
3:44
NYJ
TD
Brett Favre passed to Jerricho Cotchery to the right for
11 yard gain (Jay Feely made PAT)
3 - 14
2nd Quarter
6:44
BUF
TD
J.P. Losman rushed up the middle for 8 yard gain (Rian
Lindell made PAT)
10 - 14
2:05
BUF
TD
J.P. Losman passed to Steve Johnson to the right for 2
yard gain (Rian Lindell made PAT)
17 - 14
0:55
NYJ
TD
Leon Washington rushed to the right for 47 yard gain
(Jay Feely made PAT)
17 - 21
3rd Quarter
3:35
BUF
FG
Rian Lindell kicked a 48-yard field goal
20 - 21
4th Quarter
13:17
NYJ
FG
Jay Feely kicked a 31-yard field goal
20 - 24
5:30
BUF
TD
Fred Jackson rushed to the left for 11 yard gain (Rian
Lindell made PAT)
27 - 24
1:54
NYJ
TD
J.P. Losman fumbled. Shaun Ellis recovered fumble and
returned for 11 yards (Jay Feely made PAT)
27 - 31
Team Statistics
BUF
NYJ
First Downs
23
18
Passing
14
10
Rushing
9
8
Penalty
0
0
Third Down Efficiency
6-13
4-11
Fourth Down Efficiency
2-2
0-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
306
372
Total Plays
74
54
Average Gain Per Play
4.1
6.9
NET YARDS RUSHING
187
165
Rushes
32
24
Average Per Rush
5.8
6.9
NET YARDS PASSING
119
207
Completions-Attempts
24-39
17-30
Yards Per Pass Play
2.8
6.9
Times Sacked
3
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
29
0
Had Intercepted
3
2
PUNTS
3
4
Average Punt
55.3
50.5
PENALTIES
4
3
Penalty Yards
33
25
FUMBLES
4
0
Fumbles Lost
1
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
35:29
24:31
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
At different points in
the season, the Buffalo Bills
and New York Jets were each in
the driver's seat to win the AFC
East. Now, it's possible neither
team will make the playoffs. The
Jets try to bounce back from
consecutive defeats and keep at
least a share of the lead in the
muddled East on Sunday when they
host a Buffalo team that has
seen its postseason hopes all
but vanish. The Jets (8-3) were
riding high entering
Thanksgiving weekend, alone atop
the AFC East thanks to a
five-game winning streak...
Prediction: Zero TDs in
back-to-back losses show how absolutely inept the Bills have become. We all know
how Brett Favre reacts to big games. Jets 27 Bills 14
Video Preview: The Jets try
to bounce back from consecutive defeats and keep at least a share of the lead in
the muddled East when they host the Bills. Jason Horowitz and Charley Casserly
preview the game
17.5
10.3